Self-sizing headband for hats



` .JY wfPATTERsoN, JR SELFTSIZING HEADBAND FOR HATS 2 v sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2.1,v 1952 Anh... Wi

, INVENTOR JOHN WPATTEBSON JR. BY CM; r/c/ Filed Jan. 2l, 1952 J. WQ PATTERSON, JR

SELF-SIZING HEADBAND FOR HATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN M.' PATTERSON' JR. BY

MM2 rw ATTQRNEYS Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED STATE entspr omer;

SELF-SIZING HEADBAND FOR HATS John W. Patterson, Jr., Sacramento, Calif.

Application January 21, 1952, Serial No. 267,360

2 Claims.

This present invention relates in general to adjustable head bands in hats.

A major object of the present invention is to provide, in a hat, a head band whichwithin a reasonable range from a given standard hat size-is automatically self-adjusting or self-sizing to the head of the wearer, whereby to accomplish a better nt of the hat and to attain greater comfort.

Another important object of the invention is to provide, in a hat, a self-sizing head band, as above, wherein the ability of said band to vary in circumference and consequently in head size is due to the formation, in said head band, and at one end of the hat, of a longitudinal vertically corrugated section; the corrugations pulling open to increase the circumference of the head band under the influence of a larger head, and contracting to decrease the circumference under the innuence of a smaller head.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in one embodiment, the longitudinal, vertically corrugated section of the head band on the back side with an adhered sheet of nexible but elastic material which yieldably resists lengthening of said section and tends to return the same to its initial length;

A further object of this invention is to provide, in another embodiment, a cushion pad secured in connection with the crown of the hat in backing relation tc the longitudinal, vertically corrugated section of the head band, whereby to permit said section to vary in length as head size requires, and generally in proportion to the extent of compression of said cushion pad.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a self-sizing head band for hats which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a self-sizing head band for hats which is practical, reliable, and exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished in the manner as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hat including the invention in one embodiment; the crown of the hat being partly broken away to expose the head ban-d and the self-sizing means.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan of the crown taken above and loo-king downward at the self-sizing means for the head band.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l, but shows a modification.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan of the crown taken above and looking downward at the self-sizing means for the head band as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, and at present to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1-3, the hat is indicated generally at l, including-as usual-a crown 2 and a brim 3.

Within the lower portion of the crown 2 the hat is ntted with a circumferential head band t, preferably of leather; such head band being of substantial depth but much less than that of the crown 2.

Between the lower portion of the head band and the corresponding portion of the crown 2, there is disposed a folded oil silk strip 5 whose conventional purpose is to prevent perspiration and oil from the head gaining access to the adjacent part of the crown 2.

At its lower edgewi. e. at the line of foldthe oil silk strip 5 provides a bead 6, and directly above such bead the head band t is attached to the folded oil silk strip 5, and in turn the latter is attached to the crown 2, both by stitching, as at 1.

At one end of the hat, preferably at the rear,

the head band 4 is formed with a longitudinal, vertically corrugated section 8 of substantial length; the corrugations as shown being smoothn 1y rounded but initially relatively deep. This longitudinal, vertically corrugated section 8 is backed by an adhered sheet 9 of flexible but elastic material, preferably an elastic plastic. The sheet of flexible but elastic material 9 is permanently adhered to the back side of the section 8.

The folded oil silk strip 5 disposed as above described lies between the lower portion of the sheet of elastic material 9 and the crown 2 of the hat, thus providing a space Il! above said strip 5, and which space is of advantage as it assures` against the corrugations of the section 8 -being restricted against working; i. e. against expansion and contraction.

When a hat l, embodying the above described invention, is worn, the head band 4 effectively and comfortably adjusts within reasonable limits to the head size of the wearer. When the hat is pulled down on the head the corrugations of the section 8 are pulled apart or open up to the extent necessary for proper fit, thus in effect enlarging the hat size. When the pressure on the head band is removed, the corrugated section -by reason of the adherent elastic sheet 9 on the back side-contracts, and, said corrugated section returns to its initial length.

While this embodiment contemplates that the iiexible elastic material 9 be initially in the form of a sheet adhered to the back side of the head band i by a suitable adhesive, it is possible that such sheet could be an initially fluid material applied one o-r more layers on the bach side of the head band and then permitted to dry.

In the embodiment of Fig. fi-G, the general assembly remains the same, including a head band i l in the crown l2 of a hat, indicated generally at i3, which hat includes a brim i4; the head band il having a similar longitudinal, vertically cor'- rugated section l5 in one end of the hat, as before.

However, in this embodiment the adhered sheet of flexible elastic material, as at t in Fig. 1, is omitted, and instead of thin elongated cushion pad it, preferably of sponge rubber or the like, is disposed between the longitudinal, vertically corrugated section i5 and the adjacent portion of the crown l2 of the hat i3.

The folded oil silk strip is here identied at l?, the lower edge of the head band i l is secured to said strip, and the latter is in turn secured to the crown l2 by stitching, as at le; the lower edge bea-d of the folded oil silk strip ll lying below the stitching i8, as at lil.

The lower portion of the thin elongated cushion i6 is disposed above the stitching le but lies between the head band and the folded oil silk strip I7, being removably secured to the latter by tack stitching 26.

Tack stitching is preferred, as it permits the cushion pad it to be removed from the hat before the latter is cleaned in solvent or the like, and which solvent would be deleterious to said pad.

1n this embodiment of the self-sizing head band the longitudinal, vertically corrugated section i5 permits the head band Il to vary in circumference, and consequently in size, dependent on the head size of the wearer; there being a generally proportionate compression or decompression of the cushion pad lli as such corrugated section i5 expands or contracts.

in this embodiment, just as in the previous one described, the head band automatically adjusts or sizes effectively to the head of the wearer, so that the hat fits better and is worn more comfortably than otherwise.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such an article of manufacture as will substantially fulfdl the objects of the invention, as set forth here- While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the article o manufacture, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A self-sizing head band in a hat having a crown surrounding the head band, a moisture im ervious strip between the lower portion of the head band and crown and extending about the band, and stitching securing the lower edge of the head band to the corresponding edge of the strip and the latter to the crown; the head band having a longitudinal vertically corrugated section formed therein at one end of the crown of said hat, and a longitudinal sheet of flexible but elasu tic material adhered in backing relation to said section yieldably resisting expansion of said corrugated section, the lower portion of said sheet of material being engaged between the head band and said strip above the stitching and the upper portion of said sheet extending some distance above the upper edge of such strip, the latter thus spacing said upper portion of the sheet from the crown.

2. A self-sizing head Aband in a hat having a crown surrounding the head band, a moisture impervious strip between the lower portion of the head band and crown and extending about the band, and stitching securing the lower edge of the head band to the corresponding edge of the strip and the latter to the crown; the head band having a longitudinal vertically corrugated section formed therein at one end of the crown of said hat, and a relatively thin longitudinal cushion interposed between said section and the crown, the lower portion of the pad projecting between said section and the strip above the corresponding portion of the stitching, and means sep arate from said stitching securing said lower portion of the pad to the strip whereby said pad is free of direct connection with said section and crown.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 823,314 Adams June l2I 1996 1,689,539 Wagner Oct. 30, 1926 1,936,473 Dunkerly et al Nov. 21, 1933 2,092,868 Lipton Sept. 1-, 1937 2,387,567 DeFeo Oct. 23, 1945 2,417,616 Ryniker Mar. 18, 1947 2,477,240 Elishewitz July 26, 194.-!)

' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,533 Great Britain Dec. 9, 1999 8,166 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1910 204,993 Great Britain Oct. 11, 1923 

